Automation facility and method for expanding the automation facility with at least one field device

Abstract

An automation facility and method for expanding the automation facility with at least one field device, wherein expansion of the expansion of the automation facility with a further field device occurs in a simplified manner such that no disruptive influence on process control during the expansion occurs.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for expanding an automation facility with at least one field device, the automation facility including at least one automation device and at least one field device which are connected to a communication link and being planned into a project by an engineering method for solving an automation problem such that the at least one automation device processes a projected control program which comprises a plurality of control modules when controlling a process, the method comprising:
 planning at least one virtual field device representing a real field device and a control module for controlling the virtual field device into the project; 
 determining a current communication load comprising a load caused by communication of the process control and the load caused by the communication between the at least one virtual field device and an expansion module of the at least one automation device planned into the project; 
 detecting a current control load of the at least one automation device comprising the load caused by communication of the process control and the load caused by processing of a control module planned into the project; and 
 linking the control module planned into the project into the control program as a function of the current communication load and the current control load, if the control module is enabled by a user for connection of a real field device to the communication link. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the current communication and control loads are displayed to a user on an operator control and monitoring device and the control module is enabled via the monitoring device. 
     
     
       3. An automation facility, comprising:
 at least one automation device; and 
 at least one field device, which are connected to a communication link; 
 wherein the at least one automation device is planned into a project by an engineering method for solving an automation problem such that the at least one automation device, when controlling a process, processes a control program planned into the project which comprises a plurality of control modules; 
 wherein at least one projected virtual field device representing a real field device is stored in a projected communication user connected to the communication link; 
 wherein the communication user determines a current communication load comprising a load caused by communication of the process control and a load caused by communication between the at least one projected virtual field device and a projected expansion module of the at least one automation device; 
 wherein a projected control module for controlling the virtual field device is stored in the projected expansion module; 
 wherein the expansion module detects the current control load of the at least one automation device, which comprises the load caused by the process control and the load caused by the processing of the projected control module; and 
 wherein the expansion module is configured to link the projected control module into the control program as a function of the current control load, if a user enables the projected control module for connection of a real field device to the communication link. 
 
     
     
       4. The automation facility as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the automation facility includes an operator control and monitoring device to display the current communication and control load and to enable the control module.